Fort Bliss Holiday Bazaar benefits area charities

Stout Gym will turn into a shopping center this weekend that's dedicated to early holiday shoppers.

The Noncommissioned Officers' Wives Club will have its 23rd annual Fort Bliss Holiday Bazaar there on Saturday and Sunday.

The event, open to the public, raises money for the NCO Wives Club's charitable efforts, said Sue Gonzales, event chairwoman.

"It's an amazing event," Gonzales said. "You can walk up and down the aisles and look at all the merchandise and enjoy."

It's the perfect opportunity to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping and get some lunch, too, Gonzales said.

Last year, 3,000 people attended the bazaar. It raised $14,000, which was donated to charities at Fort Bliss and in the El Paso community, Gonzales said.

"We're the second-largest Christmas bazaar in the West Texas area" behind the Junior League of El Paso's A Christmas Fair, which is also this weekend at the El Paso convention center.

The Fort Bliss Holiday Bazaar will feature 145 booths, where a mix of Army spouses from Fort Bliss and vendors from all over the Southwest will sell their wares.

They will sell arts and crafts, jewelry, Christmas items, handmade crocheted and quilted goods, lavender merchandise and pottery, among other things.

Outside the gym, vendors will sell food. Proceeds from food sales will benefit different Fort Bliss military units.

Just inside the door, the NCO Wives Club, the Officer & Civilian Spouses Association and German Helping Hands will sell homemade pastries and cookies.

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Sam's Club will bring a Christmas tree and decorate it, Gonzales said.

"It's a fun weekend," Gonzales said, "and the prices are right. They are reasonably priced so ordinary people can afford them."

Admission and vendor fees benefit a host of charities including the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, The Salvation Army, the Rescue Mission, the mayor's Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless, Operation Noel and the Senior Fund.

Nancy De La Hunt is married to Maj. Roger De La Hunt. She plans to attend the Fort Bliss bazaar this weekend.

"You can find all kinds of things to give for the holidays and even birthdays," she said. "And the price is very, very reasonable. I'd say 98 percent of the things are handmade."

Fort Bliss will have another holiday shopping opportunity later this month. The German Advents Bazaar, or Christkindlmarket, will be on Nov. 19 at the German Community Center. This event is also open to the public.

It's an opportunity to buy a wide range of handmade products, including decorations, greeting cards, quilts and wood products. German food -- bratwurst, cakes, pastries and cookies -- will be sold.

German beer, glühwein (a warm mixture of wine and spices) and coffee will also be available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit the German Air Force's charitable efforts on both sides of the border.